1 Peter 4:18 KJV [18] “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” In this verse, Peter makes distinctions between the righteous and the sinner. We are all sinners outside of the grace of God and the blood of Jesus. However, if you are saved, the righteousness of Christ has been applied to your life. He is not talking about self-righteousness but His righteousness. As the songwriter wrote, “In my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” It is a great truth that the Son has made us …
“God’s Judgment at God’s House”
1 Peter 4:17 KJV [17] “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” There is a lot to consider in this verse about the judgment of God. The shocking reality is that judgment does not start with sinners but begins with the saints. This is true both in this life and in eternity. God will deal with His children first because we belong to Him. He loves us too much to let …
“Glorifying God in Suffering”
1 Peter 4:16 KJV [16] “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” Suffering is something we do not like to think about much. It is natural for us to want to live life in comfort and ease. We would like for life to sail smoothly without any interruptions or complications. However, we all know that life is seldom a smooth path. Many storms will come our way, and there will be many valleys to cross between here and the other side of life. Suffering is …
“Gang Members”
1 Peter 4:15 KJV [15] “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” There is a warning in this verse about suffering. The warning is that we need to know why we are going through it. Be sure that the suffering that comes into your life is not self-inflicted. We must be sure that we are suffering as a Christian and not as a criminal. I don’t want to live in a way that the Father has to punish me. Lot did …